Month: September 2022

Florida’s Road to Recovery – What You Need to Know About Hurricane Insurance Claims 

Heather D. Lee, Esquire Delayed Property Insurance Claims, Denied Property Insurance Claims, Hurricane Ian, Insurance Settlements, Law Offices of Heather D. Lee, Life & Property Insurance Lawyer , , , , , , ,

Hurricane Ian recently caused an estimated $25 billion – $40 billion in damages across the State of Florida, much of which is not fully protected by insurance. If your property has been damaged or destroyed as the result of this ferocious storm, the difficult and uncertain work of rebuilding now begins.

What do you do first? And how do you make sure you’re receiving every dime you deserve from your insurance company? 

It’s going to be a long road ahead but you’ll want these basics to start the process.

Immediately After the Storm:

Report the Damage

Instead of jumping straight into clean up and repair mode, it’s best to contact your insurance company before doing anything else. This allows your agent to advise you on a repair plan that adheres to the terms of your policy. Gather as much information as you can about your policy, including how much time you have to file a claim. It’s going to be a busy time!  Most insurers will advise that once you file a claim, you’ll likely wait a few days or even weeks before an adjuster contacts you to schedule an inspection. The earlier your claim is in, the better, as claims are prioritized by first-filed and most severe.

Make Temporary Repairs

After contacting your insurer, you should begin making temporary repairs to secure your property. This might include boarding up broken windows, placing tarps over holes in the roof, and/or drying out wet items to prevent mold. Take photos and video of all damage both inside and outside of your home or property before any clean-up or repair efforts are made. Keep receipts for materials used and keep a record of all repairs made. It is important to know that payments for temporary repairs come out of the total settlement amount of your claim, so now is not the time to make extensive or permanent repairs. Property insurance policies typically require that you make repairs to mitigate further loss.  BUT, you will not want to start those renovations before the insurer can conduct an inspection of the property.  It is critical that you wait until after meeting with your claims adjuster to begin final repairs.

If You Need to Relocate/Evacuate

If you are unable to live in your home due to the storm damage, your insurance policy may cover reasonable additional living expenses. These expenses can include hotel rooms, gas, meals and even clothing and other necessities. Be sure to keep records and receipts from all expenses you pay out-of-pocket while you are displaced. Sometimes insurance companies will advance the money to you but regardless, you will be required to provide proof of how the money was spent.

Filing a Claim

Once you’ve notified your insurance company of your claim, the insurer will assign and send out an adjuster to inspect your property.  Generally, an adjuster will inspect your property within 2-4 weeks. In the meantime, you will need to thoroughly document your losses and get ready for their visit.  And don’t forget, make emergency repairs and mitigate any further damages, if necessary, but do not complete unnecessary repairs before the insurer’s inspection takes place!

You will want to begin making a list of damaged items, along with specific product description information and estimated value, immediately. The more detailed the information you can provide, the smoother the process is likely to go. Again, take photos and/or video of all damage and do not throw anything away until the adjuster has seen it. During their visit, the adjuster will inspect the damage, take photos and measurements, and provide instructions on submitting receipts for emergency repairs and reimbursements. They should also go over the claims process and an itemized claim estimate with you. Be sure to ask any and all questions you have, and do not be afraid to contact them to follow-up.  

Obtain written estimates from licensed contractors on repair costs. You ALWAYS want at least one (preferably two or three) independent estimates, as insurance companies make their profits by delaying, denying, and/or low-balling claims.  Ensure the bids are detailed and include information such as materials to be used and prices on a line-by-line basis. Once you find a contractor and a bid you like, your adjuster will need to approve the cost. Never pay in advance of work being performed, and never sign your insurance check over to a contractor. 

Get Help from a Legal Professional

If you need help navigating the difficult maze of delayed or denied property insurance claims after Hurricane Ian, the Law Offices of Heather D. Lee may be able to assist you.  

Often, when a property insurance claim is denied, people turn to a public adjuster for help. However, most public adjusters charge contingent-fees similar to an attorney’s fees. And when your public adjuster cannot get a fair settlement of your claim? Well, they’ll leave you looking for an attorney to file a lawsuit. Don’t waste your time and valuable funds. Go directly to the assistance you need now.

The Life & Property Insurance Law Offices of Heather D. Lee provide free consultations on all potential cases.  As a Florida native, Attorney Lee knows how devastating the aftermath of hurricanes and other major storms can be. You don’t have to go through this nightmare alone.  We are here for you, Florida. 

#floridastrong

Rightful Life Insurance Claim Denials ~ 3 Legitimate Reasons Your Claim May Be Denied

Heather D. Lee, Esquire Delayed Life Insurance Claims, Denied Life Insurance Claims, Filing Your Life Insurance Claim, Lapse For Nonpayment, Law Offices of Heather D. Lee, Life & Property Insurance Lawyer, Life Insurance, Suicide Exclusion, The Life Insurance Lawyer ,

Life insurance is meant as a sort of “safety net” that ensures your family’s financial security in the event of your death. However, life insurance companies are not immediately required to pay out every death benefit claim received. In fact, life insurance is a BIG business, and insurance companies make their profits by collecting premiums and NOT paying out thousands, and possibly even tens-of-thousands, of claims each and every year. This is why state and federal laws are in place to protect insureds and their beneficiaries. Despite these laws, insurance companies continue to unlawfully delay and deny payment on claims in bad faith. Nevertheless, not every denial of a claim is done for a nefarious reason. Here are three reasons that your life insurance claim may be legally denied after your death.

You Lied!

Lying about your age is one thing but lying on your life insurance application is something completely different. Most life insurance policies include a two-year contestability period. This means that if a claim arises within the first two years of the policy’s issue date, the life insurance company is entitled to review the life insurance application for accuracy. If any material misrepresentation was made on the application (even if unrelated to the cause of death), your beneficiary’s claim could be denied. This comes as a shock to many, as the misrepresentation — such as an undisclosed alcoholism diagnosis — does NOT have to cause the insured’s death. The life insurance company can legally claim that the policy would never have been issued had the truth been told on the application, regardless of the actual cause of death. For example, if the insured fails to disclose his or her history of alcoholism but dies from a no-fault car accident and was not drinking behind the wheel, the claim can still be denied.

You Didn’t Pay!

As with any other contract, if you don’t pay your life insurance premium the insurance company isn’t required to honor the policy. State laws require that life insurance companies must provide at least a 30-day grace period if you do miss a payment, and each state has specific notice requirements with regard to the applicable grace period. Once the grace period expires, though, the policy is cancelled and the life insurance company can legally keep all premiums paid to date. In other words, you lose coverage and all premiums paid prior to the lapse are lawfully kept by the insurer. If you do wish to apply for reinstatement of your coverage, the life insurance company can then deny reinstatement if your health has changed since the original policy application. And if the policy is no longer active when the insured passes away? Expect a claim denial but don’t just accept it! ALWAYS have it reviewed by an experienced life insurance attorney. If the life insurer failed to provide “proper” notice (in compliance with applicable state law) of the grace period or made some other error in cancelling the policy, you may still have a fighting chance. To avoid the need for a life insurance lawyer, remember to stay current with payments, and for the elderly or anyone who suffers from serious medical issues, make sure a close family member or friend can help keep track of your payment due dates and check your mailbox for any grace period or lapse notices received.

Your Cause of Death is Excluded!

In order to mitigate risk in issuing a life insurance policy, insurance companies sometimes limit the types of deaths covered under the policy. For example, death as a result of participating in an unusually risky pastime may be excluded from payment. If you die skydiving, flying your own plane, or scuba diving, many policies explicitly exclude coverage for these risky activities. Other common exclusions include deaths by suicide, deaths occurring in the commission of (or attempted commission of) a felony, and deaths related to alcohol or drug intoxication, even if caused or contributed to by accidental overdose of a prescription medication.

It is important to note that every death by suicide is not immediately excluded from payment. However, generally death by suicide within a policy’s two-year contestability period will be. These “suicide clauses” vary from company to company and are intended to protect life insurance companies from applicant insureds purchasing life insurance while contemplating suicide. Always have your life insurance claim denial reviewed by a life insurance attorney to determine whether a denial is legitimate, even when the insured dies by suicide or “suspected” suicide.

So Remember…

  • After a death occurs, not every life insurance claim is approved and paid.  Sometimes life insurance companies delay or deny payment for unlawful reasons. However, there are perfectly legal reasons an insurance company may deny a claim.
  • If you lied on your life insurance application and the company finds out within two years of the policy’s issue date, payment on the claim may be denied after your death.
  • If you fall behind on premium payments more than 30 days, your policy may lapse for nonpayment, leaving you unprotected in the event of your death.
  • If you die while participating in an extremely risky hobby, the insurance company may refuse to pay the claim.
  • If you take your own life during the first two years of the policy, if you die while attempting to commit a crime, or if you overdose (even on prescription medication), your beneficiary or beneficiaries may not receive death benefits as a result of a “suicide clause” or other policy exclusion.

If you believe a life insurance company is wrongfully trying to delay or deny your life insurance claim, contact us for a free case evaluation today. The Life & Property Insurance Law Offices of Heather D. Lee can help you navigate the difficult claims process, demand that the company pay what you are rightfully owed, and represent your best interests throughout the case. We look forward to reviewing your claim!